As a specialist sports trading consultant, much of my time is spent doing graduate recruitment. Having put about 50 graduates into entry level trading positions this calendar year, I’ve sampled the good, the bad and the ugly in applications and interviews. Granted, it’s still very tough being a graduate in the current climate, but there are many things which make graduates more employable to a recruiter. Here are my top five tips on securing that perfect graduate position – whether it’s in poker, casino, sports, or any vertical in (or outside of) gaming.

1. CV – keep it concise and most importantly, gage your CV and covering letter towards the specific role. Too many graduates send me a standardised CV and covering letter. If you are applying for a sports betting role, at least mention betting in some form in your application! This is often the difference between a yes or a no to advancing to an interview stage.

2. Put grades on your CV – even if you are not proud of an obscure GCSE / A Level result which turned out lower than you hoped, as a recruiter we always look to the grades to get an initial feel for a candidate and if they are not there it can be hugely frustrating and have a damaging impact.

3. Look smart in an interview. You would be surprised how many times we get feedback from clients saying candidates didn’t look smart or didn’t even where a suit. Get a haircut, have a shave and dress with a suit that fits. People will make judgements according to appearances (and odour).

4. Do your research: know the company you are interviewing with well – research their background, as well as any recent industry news from different online/offline sources which they may be part of. Even better, open an online account with them and get to know their sportsbook/poker/casino products. This then allows you to demonstrate a wider interest/knowledge in the industry and them as a company, which is bound to impress.

5. Show a passion and enthusiasm for the role/company you are interviewing for. If you can convince your interviewer that this is your dream job (even if it isn’t) then that is half the battle won. Interviewers often throw challenging questions in to test your commitment/interest in the role and company – watch out for these and respond to them as positively as you possibly can.
 

Ryan